“Anyway, I should have told you about Max. We went out a couple of times as friends.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Britt asked, surprised at the tiny prick of hurt she felt. She was so sure she couldn’t feel anything anymore.
Mom looked contrite. “I didn’t think you could handle me being in a relationship.”
Annoyed, she said, “I’m not a child. I could have handled it.”
“I know. I’m sorry for treating you like one.” She sighed. “And for using you as an excuse. I’m the one who can’t handle it, and that’s something I’m going to have to work through. Are we okay, you and me? We’ve got Savannah’s shower next Saturday—”
“We don’t.” Britt went to tug on her gloves, then remembered she’d put them in her purse. She couldn’t reach the hem of her dress so all she could do was yank on her fingers under the table. “I’m not in the wedding anymore.”
“Oh, Britt! What happened?”
“She’s mad because I didn’t tell her about me and Hunter.” She couldn’t bring herself to say the full truth. Savannah had a right to be mad at her, and during her sleepless night, Britt realized she had used her best friend’s anger as an excuse to back out of the wedding. Her stomach twisted with remorse, but she didn’t know how to fix things with her.
Mom’s eyes narrowed. “What about you and Hunter?”
She pulled on her index finger so hard she almost knocked it out of joint. She had to tell her mother about him. Or at least some things about him. “Hunter Pickett. We were dating—”
“You were datinghim?” Mom exclaimed. “Behind my back?”
“I-I didn’t want to tell you—”
“I had him in one of my classes years ago. He was trouble back then. Big trouble.” She sat back in her chair and huffed. “Well, now I know why he was with your father last night. How did you meet?”
Uh-oh.And their conversation was going so well. “Online,” she squeaked.
“How many times have I talked to you about internet safety?”
“Mom—”
“Did he take advantage of you?”
“He’s not like that. We broke up because he lied to me.”
“That’s not much better.” Mom glanced up at the ceiling before leveling her gaze on Britt. “Why didn’t you tell me you were dating someone?” She paused. “Were you ashamed of me?”
“Mom, please. Just listen. It’s hard enough talking about it.”
Her mother paused, then nodded. “Go ahead.”
Britt told her mother everything about how they met and the art lessons at K&B. “That was my project. Teaching Hunter how to draw. And I didn’t tell you about him for the same reason I didn’t say anything to Dad or Savannah.” Her eyes began to sting. Everything was so messed up.
“Call Savannah,” Mom said in a gentler tone. “You two have been best friends since grade school. You can work this out.”
“I don’t know about that.” Tears fell down her face. Ugh, now her chest was burning again. “I didn’t want to tell her or anyone else about Hunter. I just wanted to have something special of my own for a little while. To see what it felt like to be normal for once.”
Her mom didn’t say anything, confirming what Britt had always known to be true. She wasn’t normal. She never would be.
“You aren’t together anymore?” Mom asked.
She shook her head, not missing the relief in her mother’s eyes, even though she was trying to hide it.
“How about we rent a movie tonight?” Mom said. “We can drown our sorrows in a good old nineties rom-com. That was the best era.”
Did her mother really think that Britt wanted to watch a romance right now? “I’m going to my room.” She grabbed her bag and shot up from the table.
“Britt,” Mom said. “You and Hunter... You weren’t serious, were you?”
